Method and system for visually differentiating industrial personal computers

ABSTRACT

A system and method for visually differentiating an industrial PC including a color-coded removable rigid differentiation plate disposed on the front side of the industrial PC. The removable rigid differentiation plate is non-adhesive and is mechanically coupled to the faceplate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of an applicationentitled “Method and System for Visually Differentiating IndustrialPersonal Computers” by Curtis R. Nelson, Craig J. Jensen and John R.Bodensteiner, application Ser. No. 09/648,323 and filed on Aug. 25,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,151 which application is incorporatedherein in its entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In recent years, industrial personal computers have become increasinglyprevalent in many industries. It is not uncommon today to see rows ofindustrial PCs arranged in racks. While many of these industrial PCs areoften designed and manufactured to higher standards than consumer PCs,they still are occasionally in need of repair. Typically, when a repairis needed, the PC is removed from the rack, taken to a computer repairfacility, and repaired. However, the task of identifying the correct PCto be removed is often not a trivial task. With row upon row ofvirtually identically appearing PCs in floor to ceiling racks, it oftenis difficult to rapidly ascertain even the general area that a PC mightbe located. In the past, to address this problem, some industrial PCusers have applied adhesive labels on the front panels of the PC, givingidentifying information.

While these adhesive labels may have been used extensively in the past,they do have some drawbacks. First of all, they are prone to becomingdetached from the PC. This can happen as a result of contact withpersons moving about the racks or because of degradation of the adhesivebond.

Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems forvisually differentiating personal computers in a rack in an efficientmanner.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and methodfor visually differentiating an industrial personal computer in anefficient manner.

It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a non-adhesiveremovable rigid visual differentiation plate.

It is another feature to provide the removable rigid visualdifferentiation plate in a color which is dissimilar from a color of thefaceplate of the PC.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide aplurality of, dissimilar colors for said removable rigid visualdifferentiation plates and to associate PC having common functionalcharacteristics to a particular color.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to include a removaltool for assisting in rapid removal of the removable rigid visualdifferentiation plate.

It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improvedefficiency in differentiating industrial personal computers disposed inracks.

The present invention is an apparatus and method for visuallydifferentiating industrial personal computers designed to satisfy theaforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include theabove-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages.The present invention is carried out in an “unintentional removal-less”manner in a sense that the accidental or otherwise unintentional removalof a visual differentiation plate due to a failure in an adhesive bondhas been eliminated.

Accordingly, the present invention is a mechanical system and methodincluding a none adhesive removable rigid visual differentiation plateon faceplate of an industrial computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention may be more fully understood by reading the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, inconjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1, showing a removaltool being used to assist in the removal of the differentiation plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the system of the present invention withthe differentiation plate disposed in a final fixed position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a rack of industrial computers having thedifferentiation plate of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matterthroughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown asystem of the present invention including an industrial PC faceplate102, having a front faceplate side 103, a top faceplate side 104, adifferentiation plate void 106, having ear receiving voids 108 and 110.

Throughout this description, the term “industrial PC” is used torepresent a PC of the type which is capable of being stored in racks ofmultiple rows of PCs, where each row has multiple PCs and where the PCsare coupled to wiring associated with the rack and other equipment by atleast one connector at the rear end of the PC . This definition ofindustrial PCs is not intended to include laptop PCs which have aconnector on the rear end of the laptop for coupling with a dockingstation or a port replicator. Consequently, the term “industrial PC”will specifically exclude any computer where the width dimension w isgreater than three times the height dimension d and shall not includeany PC which has along its top side a hinged display screen hinged alongthe rear end of the PC.

Voids 108 and 110 are for receiving therein ears 128 and 130respectively. Ears 128 and 130 are disposed on a bottom edge 126 offront side 124 of differentiation plate 120, which has a top side 122.Front side 124 and top side 122 are substantially orthogonal withrespect to each other. The dashed lines show how the ears 128 and 130fit into voids 108 and 110, respectively. Preferably the colors offaceplate 102 differentiation plate 120 are of dissimilar colors. In oneembodiment, the front side 124 and the top side 122 are made of smoothsurface for assisting in handwriting information on with a permanentmarker or other writing instrument. In another embodiment, the frontside 124 and the top side 122 can be manufactured with informationdisplayed thereon for assisting in differentiating one PC from another.Preferably, differentiation plate 120 is a single rigid piece of ABSplastic, which is preferably of the same material, but need not be, asfaceplate 102.

Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown, in a partially exploded view, asystem of the present invention, generally designated 200, including afaceplate 102 and a differentiation plate removal tool 210.Differentiation plate 120 is shown positioned at a midpoint in theremoval process. Top side 122 has a thin lip region 202 disposed alongits back edge 204. Top side 122 has been pivoted around bottom edge 126by a downward pressure applied by tool 210 (which is shown in anexploded relationship with plate 120). Removal tool 210 includes a frontprotuberance 212, which is preferably adapted to fit into a top gap 205(FIG. 3) formed between top side 122 and top faceplate side 104, along apoint above the thin lip region 202 which is partially disposed underthe top surface of top faceplate side 104, when plate 120 is in a finalfixed position. Additionally, tool 210 includes a fulcrum protuberance214, for controlling a pivot point of the plate 120 during the removalprocess. Preferably, tool 210 is a rigid member made of milled aluminum.

Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a faceplate 102 with thedifferentiation plate 120 disposed over void 106, and in a final fixedposition. A lower pivot point gap 302 is disposed along the jointbetween bottom edge 126 and front faceplate 103. Gap 302 is adapted topartially receive the fulcrum protuberance 214.

In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention asdescribed in FIGS. 1-3, could function as follows:

The faceplate 102, with the removable plate 120 firmly coupled therein,is readily identifiable by the dissimilar colors between the faceplate102 and the removable plate 120. The removable plate 120 can be removedand replaced as follows: tool 210 is engaged with faceplate 102. Frontprotuberance 212 is disposed in top gap 205 while the fulcrumprotuberance is disposed in gap 302. Downward pressure is applied to thetool 210, causing the top gap 205 (FIG. 3) to increase and the removableplate 120 to pivot about its bottom edge 126. With further pressure ontool 210, the thin lip region 202 becomes free of the faceplate 102, andthe removable plate is free to be removed easily. The insertion processof the removable plate 120 is as follows: Ears 128 and 130 are insertedinto voids 108 and 110 respectively. Removable plate 120 is then rotatedtoward faceplate 102 so that the top gap 205 becomes smaller. Additionalrotational force is applied to the removable plate 120 despiteincreasing resistance. When the removable plate snaps into place so thatthe top side 122 is with top faceplate side 104, the insertion processis complete. In this, the final fixed position, the removable plate 120is extremely resistant to accidental or unintentional removal by anymeans.

Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a rack 400 of industrial PCs,including a PC having faceplate 102, as well as PCs 402, 404, 406, 408,410, 412, and 414, as well as several additional non-enumerated PCs. Inthis example, we will assume that each PC in the rack 400 is the samebrand and size and that they have the same color of faceplate; we willassume it to be black for this discussion. Faceplate 102, as well as PCs402 and 404, will be assumed to be used for administration of a network.Consequently, the removable panels of each of these PCs will be of thesame color, assumed here to be purple. PCs 406, 408, 410, and theremainder of the non-enumerated PCs can be assumed to be primarilyrunning application software for use by remote users. e.g., call centersoftware for telemarketing, etc., and they would have a different colorfor the removable plate 120, e.g. yellow. PC 412 might be used as anemail server and have yet a different colored removable plate therein.Now assume that the function of PC 414 has been changed from running anapplication software package to that used by a network server. If thisis the case, then the yellow removable plate, for application PCs, wouldbe replaced with a purple removable plate for network servers. Then,despite its physical separation from the other network servers, it canbe readily identified as being associated with them. In the system ofthe present invention, each PC in the plurality of PCs in the rack whichhave differentiation plates of the same color will either include acircuit board or software file therein which is common to each other andalso different from other PCs having differentiation plates of differentcolors. Thus the color of a differentiation plate indicates that aparticular circuit board or software file is disposed in any given PC.

Throughout this description, reference is made to an industrial PC,because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the presentinvention would be most readily apparent when used in connection withindustrial PCs: however, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to industrial PCs and should behereby construed to include other non-industrial PCs as well.

It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present inventionwill be understood from the foregoing description and that it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps,and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of theirmaterial advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferredexemplary embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An industrial PC comprising: a faceplate disposedon a first end of a housing of a PC, said faceplate having apredetermined first color characteristic and being substantially planar;a differentiation plate having a predetermined second colorcharacteristic removably disposed on said faceplate; saiddifferentiation plate having an exposed first section which issubstantially planar and which is parallel to said faceplate, and anexposed section which forms an edge of said first end and issubstantially orthogonal to said faceplate; and said differentiationplate being coupled to said faceplate in a mechanical, non-adhesive,coupling.
 2. An industrial PC of claim 1 wherein said differentiationplate is a rigid “L” shaped member having along one edge, ears forinsertion into voids in said faceplate.
 3. An industrial PC of claim 1wherein said edge of said PC is a top edge.
 4. An industrial PCcomprising: a faceplate disposed on a first end of a housing of a PC,said faceplate having a predetermined first color characteristic andbeing substantially planar; a differentiation plate having apredetermined second color characteristic removably disposed on saidfaceplate; said differentiation plate having an exposed first sectionwhich is substantially planar and which is parallel to said faceplate,and an exposed section which forms an edge of said first end and issubstantially orthogonal to said faceplate; said differentiation platebeing coupled to said faceplate in a mechanical, non-adhesive, coupling;wherein said differentiation plate is a rigid “L” shaped member havingalong one edge, ears for insertion into voids in said faceplate; andwherein said differentiation plate is removable from said faceplate byrotation around an interface line which exists between the faceplate andthe differentiation plate along a bottom edge of the differentiationplate.
 5. An industrial PC of claim 4 wherein said rotation around aninterface line is assisted by a tool having a front protuberance thereonfor insertion in a top gap between a top side of said differentiationplate and a top faceplate side of said faceplate.
 6. An industrial PC ofclaim 5 wherein said top gap is above a lip region on an opposite end ofsaid rigid “L” shaped member with respect to said ears and wherein saidlip region is thinner in its smallest dimension with respect to asmallest dimension of all other portions of said differentiation plate.7. A computer system comprising: a rack having a plurality of slotstherein for receiving a plurality of industrial PCs; a first industrialPC having a first primary functional characteristic, said firstindustrial PC disposed in said rack; a second industrial PC having asecond primary functional characteristic, said second industrial PCdisposed in said rack; and, wherein said first and said secondindustrial PC each include a non-identical differentiation platethereon, where a difference between each non-identical differentiationplate is representative of a difference of said first primary functionalcharacteristic and said second primary functional characteristic;wherein said non-identical differentiation plate forms a front edge andan orthogonal edge of an industrial PC.
 8. A computer system of claim 7further comprising: a third industrial PC having a third differentiationplate thereon having a visually similar characteristic with respect tothe non-identical differentiation plate of said first industrial PC andhaving a visually dissimilar characteristic with respect to thenon-identical differentiation plate of said second industrial PC,wherein said third industrial PC has a third primary functionalcharacteristic which is identical to said first primary functionalcharacteristic; wherein said orthogonal edge is a top edge.
 9. Acomputer system of claim 8 further comprising a tool for engagement withand extracting a differentiation plate from said third industrial PC.10. A computer system of claim 8 which includes a differentiation platewhich is rigid and mechanically coupled to said first industrial PC,through a non-adhesive interface.
 11. A method of differentiatingindustrial computers disposed in a rack comprising the steps of:providing a first differentiation plate on a first industrial PCdisposed in a rack, the first industrial PC having a first predeterminedfunctional characteristic; providing a second differentiation plate on asecond industrial PC disposed in the rack, the second industrial PChaving a second predetermined functional characteristic; providing athird differentiation plate on a third industrial PC disposed in therack, the third industrial PC having a third predetermined functionalcharacteristic; wherein said first and said second differentiation platehave an identical first color characteristic and said first and saidsecond predetermined functional characteristic are identical; and,wherein said third differentiation plate has a contrasting colorcharacteristic which is non-identical with respect to said first colorcharacteristic; wherein said first differentiation plate forms anexposed front edge and an exposed second edge of said first industrialPC, which exposed second edge is orthogonal to said exposed front edge.12. A method of claim 11 wherein said first, second, and thirddifferentiation plates are removable; and wherein said second edge is atop edge of said first industrial PC.
 13. A method of claim 12 whereinsaid first, second, and third differentiation plates are rigid and Lshaped.
 14. A method of claim 13 wherein said first, second, and thirddifferentiation plates are mechanically coupled to a PC through anon-adhesive interface.
 15. A method of differentiating industrialcomputers disposed in a rack comprising the steps of: providing a firstdifferentiation plate on a first industrial PC disposed in a rack, thefirst industrial PC having a first predetermined functionalcharacteristic; providing a second differentiation plate on a secondindustrial PC disposed in the rack, the second industrial PC having asecond predetermined functional characteristic; providing a thirddifferentiation plate on a third industrial PC disposed in the rack, thethird industrial PC having a third predetermined functionalcharacteristic; wherein said first and said second differentiation platehave an identical first color characteristic and said first and saidsecond predetermined functional characteristic are identical; whereinsaid third differentiation plate has a contrasting color characteristicwhich is non-identical with respect to said first color characteristic;wherein said first differentiation plate forms an exposed front edge andan exposed second edge of said first industrial PC, which exposed secondedge is orthogonal to said exposed front edge; wherein said first,second, and third differentiation plates are removable; wherein saidsecond edge is a top edge of said first industrial PC; wherein saidfirst, second, and third differentiation plates are rigid and L shaped;wherein said first, second, and third differentiation plates aremechanically coupled to a PC through a non-adhesive interface; andwherein said first, second, and third differentiation plates areremovable from a PC via a downward pivoting action.
 16. A method ofclaim 15 wherein said downward pivoting action is inducted by a forceapplied by a tool having a protuberance thereon which extends into a gapbetween each of said first differentiation plates and a PC faceplate.17. A method of claim 16 wherein said first differentiation plate is asmooth surface.
 18. A method of claim 17 further comprising the step ofusing a marker to generate identification information on said firstdifferentiation plate.